Elements - by Jamesie Fournier (Paperback)

About the Book

A complex, at times dark, debut poetry collection from Inuk author Jamesie Fournier.

Book Synopsis

In this complex, at times dark, poetry collection from Inuk author Jamesie Fournier, readers are taken through the recesses of a character struggling with inner demons whispering into his mind. As he attempts to overcome his inner turmoil within a Colonial and contemporary system that oppresses him, the speaker guides readers through verse both ethereal and imagistic. Echoing artists as varied as Margaret Laurence and The Velvet Underground, this sweeping collection of bilingual verse deals with erasure, resilience, and--above all--resistance through the voice of one complex protagonist.

Review Quotes

Elements by Jamesie Fournier is a collection of poems that explores themes of nature, identity, and Indigenous culture. Fournier, an Inuk poet, artist, and activist from Nunavut, infuses the poems with personal reflections and a deep connection to the environment, particularly the landscapes of Vancouver Island.

This collection has a strong emphasis on understanding Indigenous perspectives and promoting bilingualism. Fournier's poems delve deep into the complexities of personal struggle and cultural identity, offering profound insights into the challenges faced by Indigenous individuals in contemporary society.

By engaging with Elements, students can explore themes of emotional resilience, cultural heritage, and the power of language to express and overcome adversity. Overall, Fournier's bilingual verse provides a compelling narrative of strength and perseverance, making it an invaluable addition to high school literature studies.

About the Author

An Inuk raised in Denendeh, Jamesie Fournier's work has appeared in Inuit Art Quarterly, Red Rising magazine, Northern Public Affairs, and the anthology Coming Home: Stories from the Northwest Territories. His brother, Zebede Tulugaq Evaluardjuk-Fournier, illustrated his last two projects with Inuit Art Quarterly. Jamesie was guest author at the 2018 & 2020 Northwords Writers Festivals and a runner up for 2018 Sally Manning Award for Indigenous Creative Non-Fiction. He lives in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

Jaypeetee Arnakak is a linguist, translator, and educator. He spent many years as a policy analyst specializing in Inuit culture, language and education issues. He is the editor of Unikkaaqtuat Qikiqtaninngaaqtut, a collection of thirty-three versions of traditional stories, transcribed and edited from oral recordings of ten Inuit elders from two High Arctic communities, Arctic Bay and Igloolik. He has also adapted several traditional Inuit stories into children's storybooks.